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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
According to my college teacher, the way mail-in ballots in Arizona work is that they're counted last if the difference is narrow enough that they might make up the difference, which basically just means they're counted last since it would take an absurd squash for them not to be counted. Mc Sally might still have the edge, but there's a ton of mail-in votes yet to be counted, so Sinema still has a chance.
@Deadbeat, CNN is only reporting that he's going to the White House today.
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The districts are there so that all given localities have a voice in the federal government (as opposed to the Senators, who speak for entire states). Granted, the issue is muddied because of gerrymandering, but the concept is sound. In theory each district has a similar population, but that's a difficult science even when it isn't tainted by political interference.
Edited by Rationalinsanity on Nov 7th 2018 at 5:20:44 AM
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.I do have a question for everyone here: is it even possible for Democrats to take the Senate in 2020? I keep hearing that the Republicans have a built-in advantage in Senate seat because of their overwhelming support among rural voters. If that's the case, a Democratic Trifecta might not be possible for at least a few decades. Which means our best option is to keep the federal government deadlocked by maintaining a house majority and winning as many presidential elections as possible.
Edited by Ludlow on Nov 7th 2018 at 1:22:11 AM
So let me make sure I got it right:
- Each state's population is divided into a number of districts, the exact number varying from one state to another. (Is there a specific "formula" for how the number is decided? And does it take into account the possibility that variations in population growth could very well lead to any two randomyl chosen states switching places in which one has the greater population over several decades / a century?)
- Each state's number of House Representatives is equal to the number of districts, with each individual Representative hailing from and/or representing that district.
- The entirety of the state's voting population votes on each Representative that is up for election, regardless of whether or not the voter is in that Rep's district.
Am I right so far?
Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.It's absolutely possible for the Democrats to take the Senate in 2020. The reason Yesterday was so rigged against them was because there were lots of Democrat up for re-election, but hardly any Republicans, so there weren't many opportunities to pick up seats, but lots to lose seats.
That particular pendulum is going to swing the opposite way in 2020. Yesterday was bad enough that it'll be a battle, but it absolutely can be done.
Like Le Garcon and The Rogue Penguin said: to divide the states up because the number of House members is based on population rather than a flat 2 per state like the Senate.
This is also where gerrymandering comes in. Since the local state governments get to draw these districts, they usually try to draw them in a way that helps them the most while hurting the other party as much as they can get away with.
So let me make sure I got it right:
1 Each state's population is divided into a number of districts, the exact number varying from one state to another. (Is there a specific "formula" for how the number is decided? And does it take into account the possibility that variations in population growth could very well lead to any two randomyl chosen states switching places in which one has the greater population over several decades / a century?)
2 Each state's number of House Representatives is equal to the number of districts, with each individual Representative hailing from and/or representing that district.
3 The entirety of the state's voting population votes on each Representative that is up for election, regardless of whether or not the voter is in that Rep's district.
Am I right so far?
Right on 1 and 2, not on 3. Only the people in the district vote for that representative. So only the people that live in Illinois 6 (to continue beating my example into the ground) vote on the Representative for that district. However everyone in the state votes on the Senator.
I believe there is a formula for calculating how many Reps a state gets, but I can't remember what it was.
Edited by Cris_Meyers on Nov 7th 2018 at 3:32:12 AM
But aside from that, the intent (ostensibly) of having regional Districts is to have those particular House members present bills that their particular constituents would appreciate having passed. Just look at the Upstate/Downstate/Western divide in New York for just how weird that can get.
Edited by ironballs16 on Nov 7th 2018 at 4:36:42 AM
"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"@Marq FJA Everything but number 3 is right. Only people within a congressional district can for its house representative. The Senate seats are where everyone votes.
Edited by Ludlow on Nov 7th 2018 at 1:36:03 AM

They're the designations for individual House districts. IL-6 is the 6th District of the state of Illinois.